CALIFORNIA DNC PRESS DEMOCRAT

MAY 2017 PAGE 1 DNC CHAIR NAMES TRANSITION ADVISORY TEAM BY MICHAEL KAPP, DNC MEMBER

At the end of February, the DNC met in Atlanta for our Winter Meeting. Our main responsibility was electing new DNC officers. For me, this meeting was a culmination of months of organizing and campaign- ing nationally for my can- didate for DNC Chair (and the clear favorite of Cali- fornia Democrats): Keith Ellison, the congressman from Minnesota. While the DNC elections California DNC Members in Atlanta did not turn out the way many California Demo- crats wanted (for the rec- ord, 18 out of 20 of Cali- DNC DEPUTY CHAIR PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE fornia’s elected DNC members voted for El- BY ALEX GALLARDO ROOKER AND KEITH UMEMOTO, DNC RBC MEMBERS lison), I was pleased that the first act of new DNC Chair Tom Perez was to New DNC National Chairper- specify that the Treasurer and ask the membership to son Tom Perez’s first act was to National Finance Chair are suspend the rules and get unanimous consent to have members of the DNC Budget appoint Keith Ellison as Rep. Keith Ellison named the and Finance Committee, but Deputy Chair. DNC’s Deputy Chair. that is essentially it. In March, Chair Perez What does it mean for Rep. Does this mean that Deputy announced a 36 member Ellison to be the DNC Deputy Chair Ellison holds a simply Transition Advisory Com- Chair? ceremonial position? No, there mittee that drew from The Charter and Bylaws of is precedence for having a Dep- Democratic leaders the Democratic Party of the uty Chair of the DNC, or in an- throughout the country. I United States do not include other case, a Chair of the Voting was humbled to be ap- any language for this position. Rights Institute. CDP Vice Chair Alex pointed, along with current Furthermore, in examining other These responsibilities and Rooker is Treasurer of and former elected offi- codified DNC officer positions past examples are far from cer- the Association of State cials, labor leaders, and except for the Chair, the Charter emonial, as they have strength- Democratic Chairs Democratic Party activists. and Bylaws provide minimal to ened the Democratic Party and This committee is charged no specificity of officer roles and the DNC. with providing sugges- responsibilities, other than being tions, feedback and advice In 2001, Terry McAuliffe was members of the Executive Com- elected National Chair of the on the following three pri- mittee. ority areas: DNC. He recruited Mayor The Chair has specific duties Maynard Jackson, who had 1) Building a Party that outlined in Article Six of the dropped out of the Chair’s race, reaches into and rep- Charter and Section 12 of the to focus on national develop- resents every corner Bylaws. This includes calling ment and operate the Voting of America; and presiding over DNC meet- Rights Institute. 2) Expanding and ings, serving as the DNC’s Following the 2000 Presi- strengthening partner- Chief Executive Officer and dential election, Mayor Jack- ships, identifying out- carrying out the policies and son’s role was significant. Vice reach opportunities programs of the National Con- President Al Gore had conced- Keith Umemoto and bolstering grass- vention and DNC. The Bylaws ed and W. Bush became the is a Co-Chair of the CDP Credentials Committee Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 5

MAY 2017 CALIFORNIA DNC PRESS DEMOCRAT P AGE 2 POPULAR VOTE vs. ELECTORAL COLLEGE BY REP. BARBARA LEE, DNC MEMBER

Like you, since election and often un-constitutional with his extreme right-wing night, I have been resist- policies of the Trump ad- agenda and self-professed goal: ing this un-American ministration. We have “the destruction of the adminis- Trump agenda. fought tooth and nail trative state.” Ste- On January 6th, I took to against Trump's unqualified ve Bannon must go and we are the House Floor to object billionaire appointees, and building the bold and fierce to the certification of the his vicious attacks on the grassroots resistance to make it Electoral College based independent press, envi- happen. on Russian interference in ronment, immigrants, Mus- We must stay woke in these our elections, violations of lims, women, and civil and upcoming battles and keep the Voting Rights Act and human rights. up the pressure. Grassroots massive voter suppres- As we all know, one of efforts in places like Alameda sion. the chief architects of the and Berkeley, in my district, On January 20th, I boy- most insidious polices com- where city councils passed cotted Trump’s inaugura- ing from the White House is unanimous resolutions sup- tion and spent the day Steve Bannon. In Febru- porting an investigation into the uplifting the resistance ary, I introduced a resolu- possible impeachment of Presi- with Michael Moore, tion in Congress and at the dent Donald Trump, are an im- Ashely Judd and so many DNC winter meeting calling portant tool for organizing and DNC Member Barbara Lee of our passionate allies. for Steve Bannon's removal should be applauded and repli- represents California’s 13th On January 21st, I from the National Security cated. District in Congress marched alongside the Council. While I’m pleased Together we will continue to hundreds of thousands of the DNC adopted the reso- build out and execute our re- women and allies gath- lution, and I am relieved sistance roadmap: one that ered on the National Mall, that he was removed from takes our fight to red districts and in solidarity with the the NSC, his continued and states across the country, millions more who un- presence in Trump's ad- and propels us to victory in leashed the power of the ministration is a direct 2018 and beyond. resistance across the threat to our rights and our I'm proud to be your partner in country and the globe. values. these battles. Our work together In the months since, I As long as Steve Bannon is creating a stronger, more have taken to the House is part of this administra- progressive Democratic Party. floor and to the streets to tion, he will continue to Stay Woke- resist the cruel, dangerous inflict chaos on our country Barbara

DEMS NEED TO TALK AT STREET LEVEL, NOT COLLEGE LEVEL BY BOB MULHOLLAND, DNC MEMBER

A staffer said this in Boxer & Feinstein won) years. In 2016, Trump had a November 1972, "I don't were 79% of the elec- "cause," which resonated es- know how George torate and last November pecially with white voters with- McGovern lost 49 states. for the first time were be- out a college education. Everyone I know voted low 50% (48%). Secretary Trump's cause was stopping for McGovern." Even Clinton won by 4,269,978 Mexican-Americans, Muslims today when I give talks votes or by 30.1 points. and immigrants from moving and state that no Demo- In 1960, 43 year old into your neighborhood. The cratic presidential candi- Democratic candidate, KKK loved it. dates has won the white John Kennedy, running Modern Democrats, full of vote since LBJ in 1964, against the incumbent 47 Ivy League graduates, think some activists will say year old Vice President campaigns are like a class- "that can't be true be- Richard Nixon, accused room discussion, 50 students cause all my white Nixon of a missile gap and with above average IQ listen- friends voted Democrat- not having a secret plan to ing to your every word. Cam- ic." In 2010, Governor Bob Mulholland invade Cuba. Both charg- paigns are cage fights. Many Jerry Brown beat Meg resides in Chico and can es were absolutely "Fake highly educated liberals want Whitman by 13 points, be reached at News." Kennedy created to believe that candidates can but he lost the white vote [email protected] his own campaign narra- explain things. Romney sum- by 3 points. and tive. In 1992, Bill Clinton marized it best in 2012. "If @chico.bob Nationally, whites are had his own narrative - you're explaining something, 70% of the electorate; "I'm a new kind of Demo- you're losing." Trump never however, in 1992, whites crat." It was a good con- explained things, just attacked. were 87%. In California, trast to the Democratic Continued on Page 5 whites in 1992 (Clinton, Party of the previous 30

MAY 2017 CALIFORNIA DNC PRESS DEMOCRAT P AGE 3

DEMOCRATS REFUSE TO ROLL OVER ON GORSUCH GOP SENATORS UPEND TRADITION AND CONFIRM HIM ANYWAY BY LAURENCE ZAKSON, DNC MEMBER

Over 400 days after the (including some refined in mon sense and fairness.” death of Antonin Scalia and the DNC war room) in an Gorsuch also advanced a after having deprived Presi- effort to derail the Gorsuch novel interpretation of federal dent Obama of the oppor- nomination, but GOP Sena- law that would dramatically tunity to have his nominee, tors refused to consider any reduce the education assis- Judge Merrick Garland, even of them. Among these ar- tance granted to parents of given the courtesy of a hear- guments was a call for the children with disabilities—a ing, the GOP-dominated Senate not to hold a vote decision the US Supreme Senate confirmed Neil Gor- on Donald Trump’s Su- Court rejected during the such as the 113th Supreme preme Court nominee while confirmation process. Fur- Court Justice and, on April his administration is under ther, Gorsuch has pioneered 10, 2017, now-Justice Gor- the cloud of an active FBI a novel standard for judicial such took the oath of office. investigation into ties to a review that would allow cor- To bring this about, the Re- hostile foreign power. More porations to escape regula- tion and impose significant Laurence Zakson is a publicans in charge of the fundamentally, Democrats labor attorney and a Senate had to overturn the pointed out that Gorsuch new constraints on the ability of the government to protect legal consultant to a filibuster (60-vote threshold) has a record of searching number of Democratic workers, consumers, and our rule that had governed such for new ways to benefit the Party organizations. nominations. rich and powerful over eve- environment. Led by Senator Chuck ryday Americans trying to Another Democratic cri- Schumer, the Senate Demo- get a fair shake. For exam- tique of Gorsuch pointed out cratic Caucus did not cooper- ple, Gorsuch dissented in a that given President Trump’s ate in this travesty. Demo- case against a truck driver attacks on the judiciary and crats first refused to end a who was fired for leaving potentially unconstitutional filibuster of Judge Gorsuch his freezing trailer by the actions, it was critical for and, then, refused to make a roadside to save his own Gorsuch to show he would deal allowing Gorsuch to be life—siding with the driver’s be independent. However, confirmed without a cloture employer against 6 other through obfuscation, Gor- vote, a vote that traditionally judges. This case illustrates such effectively refused to has required at least 60 how Gorsuch's judgment answer questions about his votes. can lead to findings that, record, especially his record according to the Associated in the George W. Bush Democrats used a number Press, “appear to defy com- Continued on Page 4 of powerful arguments

DNC TRANSITION ADVISORY REPORT Continued from Page 1 states, rethinking how we message our core Demo- cratic values, and improving roots organizing; group in charge of reaching the DNC’s transparency. out and mobilizing core 3. Communicating effec- Democratic constituencies. As has been my mission tively across all channels since my election to the and spectra. We also spoke directly DNC last year, I continue to with Tom Perez about our As the only elected Califor- do my best to keep all Cali- initial thoughts, including fornia Democrats informed nia DNC member, one of the new staff hires, changes to few Young Democrats and of how the DNC is working the DNC structure, reimple- for all of us. More than ever, the only new DNC member menting the 50 State Strat- on the Transition Advisory I am determined to bring a egy, and supporting state unified party to defeat Committee, I know I carry an parties. Throughout the enormous responsibility to Trumpism and the Republi- entire conversation, there cans in 2018, 2020, and bring your voices with me. I was an intense focus on shared this news online, beyond. To stay informed, Michael Kapp is an ap- the need to revamp our please visit pointed member of the asking for your input on what messaging and how we DNC Transition Advisory we could do better. www.michaelkapp.com and communicate with potential sign up for regular email Committee In early April, the commit- small-dollar donors and blasts! Please keep in touch tee met in-person at the voters. I specifically raised and stay involved, and DNC headquarters in Wash- ideas about ensuring a 50 thank you for allowing me ington D.C. I was pleased to State Strategy by bringing the privilege to serve you at be selected to the working DNC staff back to the the national level.

MAY 2017 CALIFORNIA DNC PRESS DEMOCRAT PAGE 4

DEMOCRATS REFUSE TO SUPPORT GORSUCH Continued from Page 3

Justice Department, which demon- the outlook for a more fair and just DNC PRESS DEMOCRAT strated that he could NOT be count- Supreme Court is bleak. As former ed on to reject executive overreach. Senator Boxer used to say, NOW ON CDP WEB SITE With Gorsuch on the Court, the “Elections have consequences” and right wing of the US Supreme Court they sometimes are not pretty ones, either. Democrats need to keep our You can soon find the newsletter in living is clearly back in control and with color at: Justices Kennedy and Ginsburg at eye on the ball in 2018 or the long the age when many justices retire, term consequences could be even www.cadem.org/our-party/dnc members worse.

DEMOCRATS: MAKE ROOM FOR RESISTANCE BY Christine Pelosi, DNC Executive Committee Member

From the MLK week- DEMOCRATS stood firm planet from pollution, our end "Our First Stand" with a deal to keep govern- seniors from privatized So- rallies to the Women's ment open from May to cial Security and Medicare March to the Muslim Ban September with NO wall, and our workers from trickle protests to the climate no deportation force, no down economics that bene- justice rallies to the multi- cuts to Planned fit Trump and his ilk at the ple fights to "Protect Our Parenthood, increases to expense of the people. Care," Democrats have NIH, famine and disaster Working together isn't been on the streets, at aid, no cuts to EPA staff, easy. We have wounds the airports, in town hall increases in science from the past - beyond the meetings and storming spending at Energy, in- Christine Pelosi can be found 2016 primary to the "what at the US Capitol and White creases in National Parks ifs?" from our "united Demo- ChristinePelosi.com House to resist the dan- spending, opioids treat- cratic government" of 2009- and gerous Trump agenda. ment and coal miners' 2011 - and fresh recruits PelosiBootCamp.com This is a powerful mo- health benefits, language entering politics for the first ment of awakening: mil- to prevent DOJ from re- time asking/urging/ lions of Americans resist- stricting the dispensing of demanding that we perform ing Trump and advocat- medical marijuana in states intersectional, indivisible, ing together for the com- where it has been legal- inclusive resistance that not yourself "who is not here who mon good. ized, help for Puerto Rico only stops Trump but builds should be here and how can I and the defeat of 70 anti- a better future. We should reach out?" And don't be Despite so-called environmental policy riders "unified Republican gov- not chase "unity" because afraid to let people kick the among the 160 partisan we have some areas where tires on old ways of doing ernment" Democrats riders. have been able to wrest we genuinely disagree -- but things - we could all use fresh repeal from the jaws of The coalition of millions rather strive for harmony perspective and an honest victory over and over of progressive activists where we can find common reckoning about past mis- again. from all communities got ground not conformity. takes and successes. The CA this done: persistent en- Democratic Party and the The Congressional As I see it, the Democratic gagement on the ground, in National Committee and the DNC "Unity Commis- Resistance, consigned to the courts, on the airwaves, sion" (think of it as a Commu- the legislative minority, California Democratic Party in social media, and in har- have a choice: we can be nity or Harmony Commission) flexed its muscles as mony with each other. will have public transitions House Democratic Lead- humble and engaged -- or The seeds of resistance we can watch the move- into new leadership and prac- er Nancy Pelosi and Sen- tices. The choices we make ate Minority Leader we planted this spring can ment march on by. People blossom into victory gar- are marching with or without to open our hearts and open Chuck Schumer led a our party will define us. massive coalition of pro- dens if we continue to work us - so it's time we welcome gresssive inside-outside hard, work smart, and work new people, share the pow- Our families and neighbors organizers to strip 160 together. We must save er, and make room for re- facing existential threats of poison pills from a must- our immigrants from depor- sistance. deportation, illness, despair pass spending bill. Think tation, our patients from Ask yourself: “am I inviting and discrimination are count- about it: Republicans dying without lifesaving new people to lead in my ing on us to grow into this have the Congress and care, our children from club, at my committee, for moment personally, emotion- the White House - but voucherized education, our my coalition?” If not, ask ally, and politically.

MAY 2017 CALIFORNIA DNC PRESS DEMOCRAT PAGE 5

SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR DNC DEPUTY CHAIR Continued from Page 1 DEMOCRATS NEED 43rd President of the United States TO TALK AT after the Supreme Court ruled in favor charged with grassroots mobilization and fundraising, outreach to progressive STREET LEVEL of the “official” result of the Florida and labor communities, coordination election, shorting Gore by a mere 537 Continued from Page 2 votes, while Florida’s Secretary of with the national campaign committees and online voter engagement, including State Harris purged 82,389 voters from the voter files prior to the elec- Democrats Live. He will also serve as you're losing." Trump never ex- liaison to the DNC’s Western, Midwest- tion, and Ralph Nader received ern and Black Caucuses, as well as the plained things, just attacked . 97,488 votes in Florida. Clearly, every Ethnic, Native American and Labor vote was important. Democrats in 2018 and espe- Councils. cially, our presidential nominee in Mayor Jackson proceeded to lay the And incidentally, when Honda was 2020 better have a narrative that foundation for efforts to protect the resonates with 270 Electoral voting rights of ALL AMERICANS, Deputy Chair, one of those whom he supported was a candidate in his first votes. Otherwise, Trump will get including having an army of attorneys run for the House of Representatives, a 2nd term. In 2020, it will be defending voters’ rights throughout now a well-known Congressperson from Trump's swamp with scandals, the country. Minnesota, Keith Ellison. indictments, and former staff talk- The Democratic Party filed numer- ing to the press versus us. ous voting rights/voter suppression lawsuits, winning many that impacted the 201 race. Therefore, Jackson truly played an instrumental role for the DNC in establishing the Voting Rights DNC TO MEET IN OCTOBER IN LAS VEGAS Institute. By Mary Ellen Early Another example of the Chair estab- lishing an officer’s position occurred in 2003, when Rep. Mike Hoonda be- came the Deputy Chair. The motivation was different, as the The DNC will hold its Fall Meeting few Asian-Americans and Pacific Is- October 18-21 in Las Vegas. The landers (AAPI) on the DNC recog- Agenda will include elections for nized the absence of an AAPI officer Regional Chairs and DNC Execu- of the Party, though the AAPI popula- tive Committee members. tion was the fastest growing (by per- Aleita Huguenin, pictured at right, centage) racial population in the U.S. is running for reelection as Western (in 2016 it became the fastest growing Regional Chair. In addition to being population numerically). a member of California’s elected Members of the AAPI Caucus, DNC delegation, she also coordi- which had been re-established in nates 13 states, in her capacity as 1998, met with Chairman McAuliffe in Western Caucus Chair. Aleita trav- 2002, when they highly recommended els across the west (on her own that he appoint an AAPI as an officer dime) to assist other states with of the DNC, since there was none. As their organizational and political a result, McAuliffe appointed Rep. needs. Mike Honda as Deputy Chair in 2003. We will also be electing four Ex- The results were phenomenal. Hon- ecutive Committee members from da crisscrossed the country, lent his the Western states (two men and supports to grassroots Democratic two women). Party clubs, particularly, but not exclu- Garry Shay, who has served on sively AAPIs and progressives. He the Executive Committee since recruited and supported candidates to 2009, will be running for reelection run for office, and raised money from at the October meeting. small donors to support the Party and DNC Western States Chair Aleita these candidates. He was responsible Christine Pelosi was elected to Huguenin with President Obama for raising millions of dollars for Dem- the Executive Committee at the ocrats and for the Party. February meeting to fill a vacancy, and will be running for a full term at Honda’s effort included support the Las Vegas meeting. for Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), long before they Both Garry and Christine (as well became members of the U.S. Senate. as Aleita, who is also on the DNC Executive Committee), travel to So there is a clear precedence for meetings all over the country in Deputy Chair Ellison to play a promi- between full DNC meetings. nent role in the DNC. Furthermore, Perez announced that Ellison will be

MAY 2017 CALIFORNIA DNC PRESS DEMOCRAT PAGE 6

CDP CONVENTION DELEGATES: WELCOME TO THE FAMILY BY MARY ELLEN EARLY, DNC MEMBER

the State Party Convention money in 1985), Tom Hayden “You can pick your delegates, rules for pre- held a $10 dinner not far from friends, but you can’t pick primary endorsements and the Convention Center. The your relatives.” I like to how members of the Demo- fare was simple (usually pas- think of all of my fellow cratic National Committee ta and salad), but you could- Democrats in the CDP as are selected. These rules n’t beat the camaraderie. family. Now I love my have been tweaked continu- I met a lot of people, but family, but I don’t agree ally since then, thanks to the most of the other delegates with them on all issues. hard-working members of were strangers to me. Like That being said, wel- the CDP Rules Committee. many people, I was disap- come to the Democratic In order to get myself pointed to learn that my du- Party Family! elected at the AD level, I ties only included attendance had to pick up a petition at at an annual convention. I my Assemblyman’s district soon started attending e- office and get it signed by 20 board meetings, where I was FROM THE EDITORS: registered Democrats living appointed to the Legislative The California DNC Press in the district. My BFF (who Committee, and joined the Democrat is published by DNC Member Mary Ellen recruited me to run) intro- Women’ Caucus (there were Early can be contacted at members of the California [email protected] duced me to someone who a lot fewer caucuses than DNC Delegation, and is was putting together slates today. not funded by the Califor- for Tom Hayden’s organiza- My advice for those of nia Democratic Party. Opinions expressed by the As the founding editor of tion, The Campaign for Eco- you attending your first con- authors of this newsletter’s the California DNC Press nomic Democracy. I was vention: don’t be afraid to articles are not necessarily Democrat, I‘d like to wel- told that there were already approach a stranger those of the California come all of the delegates, five people on their slate in (especially someone standing Delegation, the DNC or the California Democratic proxies, and volunteers to my AD, but they would rec- alone), put out your hand, Party. the 2017 California Demo- ommend me as an alternate. look that delegate in the eye

cratic Party (CDP) State After attending club meet- and introduced yourself. Sincerely, Convention, especially ings in my area (where I met Sure, you might get the brush Mary Ellen Early those of you who are here people only too willing to off (I know I did occasionally), for the first time. sign my petition), I turned in but most of the time they will Otto Lee If this is your first con- my petition. I found out be glad to make a new friend. Garry S. Shay vention, you may be a little when I got to the AD Caucus Get yourself a business card unclear about what our role that not everyone on the with a union bug, and ex- Thank you to our spon- as delegates is here at the slate had collected the re- change cards with your new sors: Steven K. Alari, John Burton, Becca State Party. My first con- quired signatures, and I had friends. Later that night, write Doten, Jess Durfee, Mary vention was in 1985, and been moved up to delegate on the back who they are and Ellen Early, Alice Huffman, at that time we were re- on the CED slate. After mak- where you met them. Don’t Aleita Huguenin, Michael ferred to as the State Cen- ing a brief speech, the bal- be afraid to reach out to me Kapp, Andrew Lachman, Hon. Barbara Lee, Otto tral Committee. That’s be- lots were counted, and I was or any other party leader. Lee, Bob Mulholland, cause our structure was elected as one of the five Most of us really do want to Christine Pelosi, John A. governed by the state leg- delegates from my AD. meet and get to know you. Pérez, Melahat Rafiei, islature. A few years later Since we had no regions Lastly, don’t write someone Alex Rooker, Garry S. Shay, Keith Umemoto, the courts decided that the in those days, we were seat- off if they happen to be sup- Laurence Zakson Party had the right to gov- ed by AD, and I was very porting a different candidate

ern itself. That included impressed by the elected for Party office, or in a pre- Printing: making pre-primary en- who sat with their ADs and primary endorsement race. Independent Printers dorsements (something we made themselves accessi- We cannot forget who our

were not allowed to do until ble to the grass roots activ- real opponents are. Your Proofreading: that time). This led to a ists. At a time when the CDP opponent in this race may be major revision of the CDP held a Saturday night dinner your ally in the next one, and Burt B. Belant Rules, which included for $125 a plate (a lot of vice versa. changes in who makes up money now, but a real lot of You’ve heard the saying,